CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 140, 15 June 1936, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. .Douglas Fairbanks, jun., plays tl part of Barnabas Barty. in the fill version of the famous Jeffery Farm n PYf' Amateur Gentleman ®VH le Regent Theatre, with assuranc l distinction; and an air. He makes a engaging Barnabas, and Gordon Harkc enters a different sphere of actin irom his usual as Natty Bell. H a cc ided success in this rol< if® story opens in the old inn kept b - rnn Barty, a retired prizeflgiiter, anhis faithful servant Natty Bell, wh idolises- his employer's son, Barnabas la the inn one night comes Lad; Cleone (Elissa Landi), and young Bai nabas falls in love with her. The dig appearance of some jewellery an< money from the inh, the propert l of. Lady Cleone's grandfather, thi Marquess of Camberhurst, result; m -John Barty, being thrown int< prison, and Barnabas goes t< London, masquerading as a gentle S2?® nallle °f John Beverly The film then traces his efforts, whic'r end in success, as they must, to prove Jus father's innocence. The programme J2, ® Regent newsreel, a comedy Smart Work," an aerial trip ovei Chile, and "Cock o' the Walk," another brilliant coloured symphony by Walt lDisney.

: MAJESTIC THEATRE. . .Tuneful voices, colourful costumi pleasing music, and buffoonery such oril y J and Hardy can provic ® r . e the ingredients of "The Bohemii Girt, - the mainfeature at the Majest Theatre. The film concerns the a ventures of a gipsy band of which t] two comedians are happy-go-lucl members. Mrs. Hardy, played by Mi Busch, is enamoured of. Devilshoof, romantic, vagabond. Devilshoof tlogged when he is caught skulkir within the-castle grounds of Coui Arnheim. and in revenge Mrs. Hare kidnaps the baby daughter of t! count. Then Devilshoof and Mr Hardy elope, leaving Oliver with tl baby .on his, hand's. He and his goo men 4 Laurel, raise the girl as a gips; and it*-is not until she has reache womanhood that she is returned to h« rightful place, in the world. In tb meantime,'however, many exciting an strange situations arise. The first pax of the programme includes a film dea mg with the hit-and-run motorist. ST. JAMES THEATRE. . ''Mary Burns, Fugitive," now show ang at the' St. James Theatre, has a its central figure, played by Sylvii oyaney, a girl who is imprisone< because _of her innocent associa /?? ■' wj'" a former college mai (Alan Baxter), turned gangster. Thi M Cenes ,? f prjson We : are extraordinar ily well done, as is the . escape whicl she makes in the company of a prisor Unfortunatelj ior pe girl, her friend is in reaiih the. feminine equivalent in the Slate: a-G-man, seeking the lair of the Pk.rHlL? nem *" After many adventures thefgirls get away, and Mary Burn< starts,-work -in a hospital. Here she et ! ; ® 4 u bll l d dentist (Melvyn Dougshe falls in love. She 3a sough t .out, however, by her former hosWtnf af hrt <^ nd flees from tlle bu .. ttj e G-men follow, to a climax. Newsreels and rate programme^ 0 " compJetc « Am-

, NEW OPERA HOUSE. fP me vel 7. fine character acting and a theme which follows closely the n?ake " Li "le Lord FauntlcJWr Ljyhich is now showing at thp appea?s P to 3 -n° us „ e ' a fll P l ; drama which al?£nf innll B J? S and tastes - F rom fyn New Poverty in Brook ' wrJ' v!L X or *> Leddie, a nine-year-oid ln#«"^ e 7 call boy ' is suddenly thrust an English castle oil fe P^eS^vT?tlve t t0 l he crotchety • V? °* By his haDDv distention, _he wins the affection of ?nrnf£ " f' . an affecti on which be-comes-more intense oti the appearrinS? of T ao( jL her claimant to the earl-r-k ocharacter of the earl h±'it- ey Smit £ gives 311 outstanding performance. Freddie Bartholomew niatfr,^ c vf edjngly weH, more than repeating .the success he made in "David Copperfield, Dolores Costellq BarrySe in the role of Dearest, Freddie s mother. Guy Kibbce and Mickey Rooney both do conS g W ,? rk - Minimal study, and a clever Walt Disney programme Symphony complete the j

paramount THEATRE. • That 'successful drama of Australian horse-racing, "Thoroughbred." which enjoyed an excellent season at the MaI® 5 if . Theatre, is still being thoroughi,. at ■ the Paramount Theatre. There have been many ciramas of. the Turf, and their plots' nccessanly have had much in. common; but "Thoroughbred," by reason,of, its Australian background has a refreshing angle. It is the story or theorise to champion class of a .Zealand. -horse, Stormalong, dehpite many attempts, to disable it by pe - C . tryin « t0 trade on its popularity. The cast is headed by African; Helen Twelvetrees, arid although she dominates the remainder ViL~! ep ,j2. yer £ b y no means dwarfs SSlf. Taihap ?, actress - Elaine HamiU, plays a small part with fine restraint. There is an excellent supporting programme.

KING'S THEATRE. . w ..'^,s l SS?a«® to Garcia," showing at the King® Theatre, is a film of fast action j tumble adventure of a kind. John Boles has the part of Lieutenant Rowan, who is enPresident of the United tn the delivery of a message to General Garcia, isolated by the enemy m the interior jungles - and swamps orcuba. Barbara Stanwyck is cast as Raphaelita, the daughter of and° y ptnrip r^ er ti? nd - Rowan ' s assistant ana guide on the journey. Wallace Beel 7 has the important part of Sergeant Dory, a renegade of the American marines. "Here Comes Trouble," the associate feature, stars Paul Kelly and Arline Judge.

PRINCESS THEATRE. Person," which heads the bill at the Princess Theatre, with Ginger Rogers in solo stardom, ushers her to her new position with a-story that is highly entertaining throughout. George Brent is the male lead. The British Dominions release "Are You a Mason?" is the second ■ fefiture. The scenes in which Sonnie Hale and J. Robertson Hare, as fake Masons, make it their business to initiate Davy Burnaby into the mysteries of Masonic rites of which incidentally, they have not the slight-' est knowledge, are amongst the most hilarious, sequences ever filmed. The supports include two technicolour cartoons.

ROXY THEATRE. : Drama moves on wheels in a lifting coffledy romance with thrills and gripping. drama in "Pursuit," Metro-Gold-Wyn-Mayer's iast-moving story of adventure, on the highways and byways, screening at the Roxy Theatre. Chester Morris and Sally Eilers play the fugitive couple. William Powell and Myrria Loy are reunited in "Evelyn Prentice," the supporting feature. They again play; husband and wife, but this time are enmeshed in an amazing probblem. worked out in one of the most (dramatic courtroom scenes ever presented on the screen. I

KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "Street Singer's Serenade," the first of the Herbert Wilcox "World Standard" productions, is now showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. Lovely Anna Neagle re-enacts the commencement of her. own career as a chorus girl, and displays her versatility as an actress, as a singer, and as a dancer, while Arthur Tracy co-stars with her in ; 'his own world-famous character of the "Street Singer." Bulldog Jack." a comedy story written round a Bulldog Drummond theme and presenting the popular Jack Hulbert in a novel characterisation, will also he screened, j Fay Wray plays the part o£ the heroine.'

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

DE LUXE THEATRE. 11 It is safe to sa.v that no film has wc greater acclamation than "The Stoi Of Louis Pasteur," the Warner Bro production now at the Do I,u> Theatre. Here is a film that has bee universally voted one of the finest eve to be brought to the scrcen. It is a extraordinary picture. because brings to us proof of the nobility tin is in man. It glorifies a figure the vcr existence of whom, perhaps,. some c us. were not too, clear on. and it dot it without ostentation or theatrics effect. Nothing quite like the picturis: tion of the life and work of Pasteu has been done before; indeed, it is i the style of presentation that "Th Story of Louis Pasteur" transcend mere cinema and becomes an emotions experience. It is a great tribute t the power and absorbing interest o "The Story of Louis Pasteur" that a many of the performances at the Di Luxe Theatre audiences have risei and applauded at the conclusion of thi film. Many of the trials and disap pointments in the life of Pasteur art depicted in the picture, and many o: his triumphs. Paul Muni deserves : special award for his portrayal ir "The Story of Louis Pasteur." and the supporting cast are worthy of the storj and the star. PLAZA THEATRE. _ A stark, dramatic tale of the brutal-

es, ity and suffering imposed upon convict; as in a fever-ridden penal settlement is ie, unfolded in "King of the Damned.' jn which is how showing at the Plaza ;ic Theatre. Conrad Veidt portrays d- Convict No. 83, whose ability earns lie him a job as orderly to the head cy of the official staff, but whose syrnae pathies are with his comrades toiling in a the swamps. Veidt is the "brains" of is the insurrection, and under his direcig tion the machine-gun on which all at hopes of success are founded is ly smuggled in and secretly assembled, ie His interest in the commandant's s. daughter (Helen Vinson) is rewarded ie by banishment to the road-building >d squad among the marshes, and the V, convicts get ready to strike under his d leadership. Things are bungled, and ?r the first breakaway is foiled. The e decision to execute one of the lead-' d ing movers in the plot brings a fur't ther outburst, and the scenes of fighting are amazing. There is a dramatic climax. The supporting subjects include newsreels and cinemagazines. s STATE THEATRE. i The story of the devious ways of i destiny in bringing together two people - of utterly, different spheres is told in l a most absorbing manner in "It Had a to Happen," at present showing at the - State Theatre. Rosalind Russell plays l the, part of the world's, richest girl and i George Raft is introduced as an immi-

r grant from Italy with neither work no ' money. They first meet by accident 01 > a liner, and the steerage passenger i scorned by the heiress. How he work his way from the lowest form of man ual work, to the career of . a politiciai controlling the lives of ; thousands, thei once'more meets the heiress, this tim< as the wife of a dishonest flnanciei (Alan Dinehart), makes a story tha holds the interest of its audiences There are tense scenes in a court ol sensational inquiry culminating in i climax. Plumour is supplied in the main by Leo Carillo, as Raft's quainl Italian friend. Among the supports is a striking series of slow-motion divine shots.

REX THEATRE. "Broadway Gondolier," the main fea ture_ at the Rex Theatre, is a novej musical comedy which reunites Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, the popular stars of "Gold Diggers of 1933." James Cagney is a "rough neck" in the second feature, "Frisco Kid," a story of San Francisco's notorious Barbary Coast when the noose of the vigilantes was the .only, check on robbery, rioting, arson, and murder. Besides Cagney in the cast are Margaret Lindsay, Ricardo Cortez, Lili Damita, George E. Stone, Donald Woods, Fred Kohler, Robert McWade, Barton Mac Lane, and Joseph Crchan.

SHORTT'S THEATRE ■ Base'd on C. M. Forester's novel, "Brown on Resolution," a picture made by Gaumont-Britisb is the main feature at Shortt's Theatre. It is a story of naval adventure on Resolution Island, one of the lonely Galapagos group in the Pacific. This is the first purely-dramatic film in vvhich the full co-operation of the British Admiralty has been successfully sought. "Orchids To You," the Fox Film comedy-drama, has John Boles. !Jean Muir, and Charles Butterworth in the three leading roles. Ruthelma Stevens, Harvey Stephens, and Arthur Lake are :among the featured favour- i ites in the cast. ]

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Ail extended season of the two fine pictures now screening at Our Theatre to Tuesday has become obligatory on account of tlie, disappointment of patrons who were, turned away on Saturday. "Mutiny on the Bounty," wit'n Charles Laughton, Clark Gable, and Fraiichot Tone heading a strong cast, is supported by a charming comedy, "Paddy O'Day," starring the amazingly clever child actress Jane Withers. Patrons ' are advised to be early! tonight, ' . |

SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. Superlative entertainment will be provided at the Seaside Theatre tonight. Two outstanding productions form the main features, the first being "Peg of Old Drury," featuring Anna Neagle and Sir Cedric Hardwcike, and rated as one of the best pictures of 1936. The second feature stars Spencer Tracy in a mystery thriller "The Murder Man," one of the most success-* ful.mystery stories since "The Thin Man." The supporting programme has been most carefully selected.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "Escape Me Never," featuring that brilliant actress Elisabeth Bergner. and "Lilies of the Field," a feast of gaiety, wit, and adventure set among England's beauty spots, and starring Winifred Shotter, comprise the programme at the Capitol Theatre tonight.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Tonight at the Regal Theatre the [golden voice of the world-famous soEirano Lily Pons will be heard in "I i"eam Too Much." Henry Fonda is [featured in this glorious musical romance. Special supports will also be shown.

PALACE THEATRE. PETONE. I Charlie Chaplin in "Modern Times," the comedian's long-awaited new comedy, shows again tonight and tomorrow at the Palace Theatre, Petone. "Modern Times" introduces the familiar little figure in the big shoes and baggy trousers into the relatively complex environment of a big industrial city, and involves him in the most hilarious situations of his entire career.

GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Myrna Loy will be seen on the screen at the Grand Theatre, Petone, tonight, in "Whipsaw," in which she is co-starred with Spencer Tracy. It is described as an adventure-romance, replete with thrills and light comedy. Falling in Love," the second feature, has as its stars Charles Farrell and Mary Lawson, as charming a paii of film lovers as ever graced the screen. It is. a refreshing and ingenious comedy. I

STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Those gay dogs, Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn, are in their element in their latest film, "Foreign Affaires," now showing at the State Theatre. Petone. As a gallant captain who has run the gamut of life with a capital "L." Tom Walls is in his element, while Ralph Lynn is, i£ possible, more asininely humorous than ever. Also on the programme is "R.A.F.," a British Air Force epic.

I TIVOLI THEATRE. ! A turbulent romance charged wii usty humour and lilting melodii ■ brings Ginger Rogers and George Brei together in their first co-appearance i | In Person, screening at the Tivc j Theatre. Making her bow as I solo star in the role of an exasperatin , iy vain screen star, Ginger has opp site her in the male lead a forthriel young man vyho takes it upon himse £. u ' rn !nto a humbler huma m rhe ma »ner in which Mil » Rogers arouses Brent's ardent intere: s tf„n S f ?. T nu S r of amusing complic; p !<« i -Person was drawn from _ story by Samuel Hopkins Adam r Ann™ v - X Ha PPened One Night ntu thn ivt ? V ?P c £ comes t0 the scree J i Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer nictur I hi' thp 3^ lo Murd ? r Case." which wf t be the associate feature, with Pai 4 as Paying the famous detectiv j role created by S. S. Van Dine Luka ■Sjis, teamed with-Rosalind Russell bri ! 'yorL y c°t lU J ß lc ? din .R woman of the He\ •! J, , rfS G »i rile Mui I oei Case makes her seventh ccreei i appearance within four months. Direcl S - f! i j y l /. 1 Marin, the picture's cas wvii a SC S Skipworth. Donali II Cook, Arthur Byron, and Ted Healy. f RIVOLI THEATRE. 5 The cast of the British and Doinin - ions historical production, "Peg of Ok - t(. r Z y lif S A !irrm H tl ' e , popular romantic - of Anna Neagle and Sir Cedric , Hardwicke, at the Rivoli Theatre : a® Rraethtog Jike a guide-book tc t V ? National Portrait Gallery. Dr Johnson and the inseparable Boswel! i Wilham. Put the Eider, the poel Sir Joshua Reynolds, Oliver Goldsmith, .and, of course, the faniou' figures. Peg Woffington and David Garriek—on whose celebrated love-affair the film jg based are all I there. The film, indeed, gives a 'gen- ' Hfp US nf S \r 0f -^ e and literary > mic^"ei 6bteenth century— that most glamorous period of British nffahi o 'y, w hen Garrick and gay affable Peg were making the Drury the J OC V s °f fashionable attention, when Dr. Jolinson was delightrhPchiL f^ sslpinfi .company of the Cheshire Cheese with his bluff witticisms, and when all-night pariies el : e , the rage at Vauxhall Gardens. Unfolding a colourful story set in a ™ u S h construction camp in the rugged of Jim Burke." Jack J? ■ s t ar i'ing production for Columbia, is the second feature. Florence Rice and Kathleen Burke enact the important feminine roies. Surke" concerns itself with the misunderstanding that anses between a father and son when the boy, instead of being the tough young ruffian his father expects, turns Siu -° a ?? n tle, talented violinist. Ho.t is starred in the father's role, with young Jimmy Butler cast as his son.

[EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. ■ at the Empire Theatre, «fje s to Romance," starring a new golden-voiced, singer in Nino -Martini, will be screened. Genevieve Tobin Anita Louise, and Reginald Denny are also in the cast. Good supports will ue sno.vn.

GROVE." The name of J. B. Priestley, one of :he most famous of modem British dramatists, has, inexplicably, been aosent from the programmes of major amateur dramatic societies up till now however, this omission has been repairl ed by the Thespians, who are to give keen theatregoers an opportunity to see what is acknowledged to be the best play in their production of Laburnum Grove/' which is to be !,!' es £ for a three nights season in the Town Hall Concert Chamber, commencing on Thursday next. The reputation of the Thespians is sufficient guarantee that this famous play will be done full justice, and one of the strongest casts ever to appear in Weilington has been selected to present the play under the direction of Victor Lloyd, who has produced all the successful Thespians' productions. Laburnum Grove" was first produced in London by Sir Cedric Hardwicke, ! with Edmund Gwenn, Mary Jerrold, and Melville Cooper in the leading roles, and was an instant success with the critics and the-public, achieving a run of over a year—and that when the ' effects of the depression were still being felt by the theatres. The box plan, which is filling rapidly, is now open at Begg s.- ; ■ - r

TONIGHT'S WRESTLING. Great interest has been aroused by the visit of Bob Kruse, the noted professional wrestler from Portland, to New Zealand, and Wellington enthusiasts will have their first opportunity of seeing' him in action tonight, when he will meet Pete Mehringer, the fast and clever 1932 Olympic light-heavy-weight, champion, at the Town Hall Kruse is. now at ; the height of his career and he created a fine impression when he opened his New Zealand tour against Cowboy Russell. His specialties are wrist locks, hammer locks, and body scissors, while his great drawing power is due to the fact that he is constantly on the aggressive and keeps a bout moving the whole time, in this he will be met more than halfway by Mehringer, who is one of the speediest men who have come to this country. There will be amateur preliminaries from 8 o'clock.

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOXING BOUT. The; Wellington Boxing Association will stage its first professional contest for 'sometime next Monday night, v .P, Harold Reeve, of Pahiatua, light-heavyweight champion of the Dominion, will meet Fred ("Kid"; Fisher, an Englishman at present living in this city, at the Town Hall. Boxing is staging a strong revival in all parts of the Dominion this season and, to give ib a good start locally, it would have been difficult to have matched'a better pair, for, in addition to having excellent records, both Reeve and Fisher are aggressive boxers of the type that appeals to the public. Reeve, Who Iras been beaten only once as a professional—by the formidable Roy de Gans, an American negro who has twice beaten the New Zealand heavyweight champion—won the cruiserweight title in a bout against Maurice O'Brien early this year. Other men he has beaten are Luttrell, Bolton,

Jacobs, Brander (New South Wales), and Nicol. Fisher, a native of London, had about 50 amateur fights without beihg beaten, and then, before leaving for New Zealand, had 25 professional contests in various parts of the United Kingdom against good quality boxers and lost only three times. He has had several fights in New Zealand during the past year and has invariably given pleasing displays, in which his crisp hitting has been a feature. A series ' of bright amateur bouts will precede the professional contest. Particulars are advertised. j,